114 FATHER MORICE ON 



" As a result of this iuter-commuuication between the Bilqula aud Tinueh it is found 

 that houses essentially similar to those of the Coast Indians iu mode of construction and 

 ornamentation, though smaller aud less skilfully built, occur far inland on the upper 

 waters of the Salmon aud Blackwater Rivers ; while, on the other hand, the practical 

 identity of some points in the mythology of the Bilqula with that of the Tiunoh of the 

 interior is a clear instance of reciprocal influence." ' 



Now, I may appear presumptuous, but my inmost convictions bid me beg leave to 

 totally dissent from the conclusious, expressed and implied, of these learned writers, aud 

 unhesitatingly assert that all such customs and beliefs as are not purely aboriginal or general 

 among all races of Indians, but are common to both coast aud inland stocks, have been 

 borrowed by the Carriers, and that consequently the latter's sociology is extraneous.- Had 

 Drs. Dawson and Boas been favoured with my opportunities for studying the question, I 

 have no doubt whatever that there could not have been two opinions on the subject. To 

 me, to ask whether our Indians lent their customs to the maritime aborigines is almost 

 paramount to inquiring whether Europeans have learnt from the Mikado's coixrt to wear 

 close-fitting uniforms or tight-lacing corsets ; yet, as nobody's word ought to be taken for 

 a proof of what he advances, I shall presently produce my reasons for setting forth 

 such an uncompromising oi^iuiou. 



CARHIER SOCIOLOaY EXOTIC— GENERAL ARGUMENTS. 



Let me observe at the outset that on the peculiar character of the Carriers aud 

 Chi^Koh'tin depends ihe strength of much of the evidence which I am going to adduce 

 in corroboration of my argument. I would, therefore, impress upon the reader the absolute 

 necessity of penetrating himself with the nature of these aborigines' main characteristic, 

 viz., their wonderful receptiveness whereby tht-y instinctively adopt the practices and 

 beliefs of such peoples as may appear superior to themselves. In spite of their shortcomings 

 and of the weaknesses which they share with the rest of mankind, their motto is, and 

 seems to have ever been, Sursum ! Upwards ! 



Nothing could be construed as a better proof of this than their behaviour since the 

 advent of the whites amongst them. "While many aboriginal tribes have to this day remained 

 refractory to all idea of exchanging the customs they inherited from their forefathers 

 for those of the pale-faced strangers, despite the confessed superiority of the latter, 

 our Carriers had no sooner obtained a glimpse of the adventurers hailing from a distant 

 land, than they immediately set upon imitating them. Their skin clothing was discarded 

 for the new fabrics offered in return for their peltries ; their hair was cut short as soon 

 as this became the fashion among the foreigners ; tattooing began to be avoided because 

 it was not noticed among them ; native utensils and implements were soon contemptuously 

 thrown away and replaced by those of imported patterns ; regular log-houses, such as 

 they saw in the North-West Company's forts, were substituted for their primitive pole 

 lodges, etc. They could not help perceiving that each of the North-West Company's 

 posts was governed by a single officer, who alone was recognized as the ruler of the 



' SbPenth Report on the North- Western Tribe,s of Canada. Brit. Assn. for Atlv. Sci., p. 2. 

 -This rule, of course, does not extend to details or minor observances, which often considerablj' differ even in 

 several tribes of the same maritime stock. 



